Steven Brezet
Steven Brezet’s ‘Diferenciado’ releases June 6th, 2025 on Circle 9 Records
New Release: Steven Brezet’s “Diferenciado”
Out Now!
Brazil and samba. Inexorably linked, samba is everywhere, from Africa to the Far East, Europe and the US. Having embraced the language, culture, and instructional generosity of master Brazilian musicians, percussionist Steven Brezet brings us Diferenciado, an ingenious follow up to his highly-praised effort on Circle 9, World Traveler. Diferenciado is a musical tribute honoring the cultural heritage of samba by fusing it to funk, salsa, ambient, and pop.
Featuring legendary Brazilian vocalists Leandro Lehart and Wilson Simoninha, jack-of-all-arranging Oscar Cordero, the rhythmic authenticity of the São Paulo percussion ensemble SP Ritmo, and guest artists from the popular Jazz fusion groups Snarky Puppy and Ghost Note, Brezet leverages ancestral and modern instrumentation, as Diferenciado advances traditional and radically new takes on samba.
Familia Brasileira, Samba Pra Papa, Chora Chora and Batucada Do Mundo all waltz with the buoyancy samba is well-known for, while Diferenciado, Tem Bafafa, and Rumbra inspire with references to Herbie Hancock, funk, guaguancó, “samba rock” and smooth jazz. Congo and Quebra brilliantly showcase samba’s allure as intricately designed ambient interludes.
Ships in a 6-panel ecowallet with complete liner notes by Michael Ambrosino. Designed by Guillaume SAIX in Paris, France.
Cat.# C90012
UPC: 666945418494
Production Credits
Recorded May 2022 at Leandro Lehart Studio in Sao Paulo Brazil.
Mixed by Simon Akkermans at Epic Rainbow Unicorn Studio in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Mastered by Leandro Lehart in Sao Paulo Brazil & Doug Beavers in New York USA
Cover photography by Rob van Dalen
Other photos by Marjan van der Weerd, Guma Sena, Simone Sena, Johan Labberte, Serhan Efe, Noah Lefebure, Eric van Nieuwland, Wim Barzilay.
Graphic design by Guillaume SAIX
Produced by Steven Brezet, Leandro Lehart
Co-produced by Emiel van Rijthoven, Laura Argudin
Tracklist
1 Familia Brasileira (Leandro Lehart, Justin Stanton, SP Ritmo) 04:15
2 Samba Pra Papa (Oscar Cordero, Powerhorns, SP Ritmo) 04:36
3 Chora Chora (Leandro Lehart, Justin Stanton, Niels Broos, SP Ritmo) 04:08
4 Congo (Interlude) (Jonathan Mones, Emiel van Rijthoven) 01:13
5 Diferenciado (Leandro Lehart, Justin Stanton, SP Ritmo) 03:20
6 Tem Bafafa (Pablo Gil, Anaadi, Wilson Simoninha, Powerhorns, SP Ritmo) 03:50
7 Quebra (Interlude) (Emiel van Rijthoven) 01:32
8 Rumbra (Adonis Panter Calderon & Osain del Monte, Niels Broos) 04:02
9 Batucada Do Mundo (Rodney Barreto, Weedie Braimah, Keita Ogawa, Little Johnny Rivero, Fantison Araby O’bryan, Robert Sput Searight) 05:38
Personnel
Steven Brezet - percussion (quinto, conga, timbau, repique de mao, caixa, minor percussion).
Leandro Lehart - cavaquinho, guitar, vocals, piano
SP RITMO (1,2,3,5,6,9)
Guma Sena - drums, caixa
Beto Repinique - repique de anel, surdo, repinique
Paulinho Sampagode - tantan
Robson Zoinho - surdo, caixa, tamborim
Klemen Gioz - surdo, caixa, tamborim
Fabiano Sorriso - pandeiro
Carlos Sombrinha - repinique, caixa
Vitor da Candelaria - repinique, tamborim
Chanel Rigolon - guitar, cavaquinho, bandolim
Carlos Cafe - pandeiro
Marcel Ortiz - bass
Danilo Holanda - cavaquinho, guitar
Dennys Silva - repinique, tamborim, percussion arrangements
Powerhorns (2,6)
Oscar ‘Chucky’ Cordero - trumpet, flugelhorn
Felipe Castro - baritone sax
Pablo Martinez - trombone
Special Guests:
Luan Barbosa Sabino - cuica, frigideira, agogo, repinique solo (6,8)
Alisson Ramos Lima - surdo (8)
Pablo Gil - tenor sax (6)
Anaadi - vocals (6,9)
Wilson Simoninha - vocals (6)
Jonathan Mones - Flute (4)
Justin Stanton - keys, synths, trumpet, clavinet (1,3,5)
Niels Broos - keys, synths (2,3,8)
Emiel van Rijthoven - keys, synths (2,4,7)
Laura Argudin - piano (6)
Adonis Panter Calderon & Osain del Monte - percussion, vocals (8)
Fantison Araby O’bryan djembe, talking drum (4,7,9)
Guest soloists in Batucada Do Mundo (9)
Rodney Barreto - drums
Weedie Braimah - djembe
Keita Ogawa - bells & pigs
Little Johnny Rivero - quinto
Fantison Araby O’bryan - djembe
Robert Sput Searight - drums
Steven Brezet “World Traveler”
Now streaming on all platforms
Steven Brezet is a Dutch-born multi-percussionist and composer.
At a very young age, Steven took djembe lessons with Senegalese percussionist Aly Ndiaye Rose and soon began expanding to other percussive instruments, including sabar, congas, bongos, timbales, and others. His travels to Senegal, Guinea, Curacao, Morocco, Cuba, and Brazil broadened Steven’s musical passion for African, Brazilian, and Afro-Latin Music.
Steven’s research and talent has brought him amongst the vanguard of young up-and-coming percussionists, and can be heard on Multi-Grammy award winner Snarky Puppy’s release “We Like it Here”.
For his Circle 9 release, World Traveler, Steven has teamed up with several world-famous artists to record an original suite of eight compositions and arrangements of Puerto Rican, Nuyorican and Venezuelan salsa. The forthcoming project includes vocalist Marcial Isturiz, percussionists Pedrito Martinez, Luisito Quintero, “Little” Johnny Rivero and Nate Werth. The album is produced by Venezuelan composer, arranger, and trumpeter Oscar Cordero.
Steven endorses instruments by Gon Bops, Contemporanea, Zildjian, Afriek, Soul Dila and Innovative Percussion.
Release date: September 2, 2022
Steven Brezet "Diferenciado' on Limited Collector’s Edition, 12” Yellow Swirl Vinyl; includes a one-sheet insert with full credits liner notes written by Michael Ambrosino, with design by Guillaume SAIX in Paris, France. Ships on or around July 12, 2025.
Cat.# C90012LP
UPC# 666945418500